The 2013 raptor migration at Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch officially ended on Nov 30. The migration was strong this year with all species being at or above average in numbers and a couple of new records. The total number of migrating raptors this season was 26,742, well above the 25-year average of 14,013. The Osprey count was 220, above the 25-year average of 165. Bald Eagle counts remained very high with 190 this year (second highest after 224 in 2012). November 29 marked a new late-date record for migrating Bald Eagle. The Northern Harrier count was 62, just above the 25-year average of 56. Accipiter numbers remained stable with 1,365 Sharp-shinned Hawks (average = 1,088), 329 Cooper’s Hawks (average = 180) and 3 Northern Goshawks (average = 3). In fact, the number of Cooper’s Hawks this year was second only to 370 in 2012. This was the fourth best season for Red-shouldered Hawks with 61 (67 being the record and 35 being the 25-year average). The Broad-winged Hawks put on another terrific show this year with a total of 23,575 (season record = 32,490 in 2010), well above the 25-year average of 11,542. In fact, we had nine days in September with greater than 250 “Broadies” including a single-day high of 8,202 on Sep 17. The number of migrating Red-tailed Hawks was 653, which is average. No Rough-legged Hawks were observed this year, which is typical (only 6 have been recorded in past 25 years). The 22 Golden Eagles counted this year sets a new season record, breaking the previous record of 17 in 1996 (25-year average = 6). American Kestrel numbers took a bit of a dive this year to 133 compared to the last two record years (294 in 2011 and 267 in 2012), but this is still above the 25-year average of 120. Merlin numbers have been slowly and steadily increasing over the years with a 25-year average of 14 and a past 5-year average of 22. This year the Merlin numbers rose yet again to 28, breaking the previous record of 26 in both 2011 and 2012. The Peregrine Falcon count remained strong with 34 (25-year average = 19), third highest behind 51 (2006) and 35 (1997). November 29 marked a new late-date record for migrating Peregrine Falcon. Finally, we had one Mississippi Kite on September 3 (only 8 have been recorded in past 25 years).
This year we had one day with 11 different raptor species (Oct 8). Thus the record for number of different raptor species in a single day (excluding vultures) remains at 12. In total, counts were conducted on 88 days this season, higher than the 25-year season average of 79 days. Counters logged in a season total of 592 hours this year, above the season average of 444. Graphs showing changes in yearly numbers of raptor species at Rockfish Gap since 1985 can be found here if interested: http://vehawk.smugmug.com/HawkWatch/Rockfish-Gap-species-trends.
Because we are “counters”, we can’t help counting and recording anything we see including non-raptor migrants or other noteworthy sightings. Total season numbers for migrating non-raptors are as follows (peak single day numbers in parentheses): 88 Common Loon (74), 12 Tundra Swan (62), 145 Double-crested Cormorant (57), 45 Red-headed Woodpecker (4), 380 Northern Flicker (111), 291 Hummingbirds (38), 355 Raven (30), 1,934 Chimney Swift (326), 2,571 Cedar Waxwing (421), 9,511 Blue Jay (a new Augusta County peak day record of 1,436), 495 Tree Swallow (119), 8,070 Common Grackle (6,100), 1,682 Red-winged Blackbird (652), 3,700 American Robin (643), 38 Horned Lark (15) and 51 American Pipit (21). Other notable bird species include: American Woodcock, Snow Goose, Great Egret, Hermit Thrush, Pine Siskin, Meadowlark, Killdeer, Blue-headed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Caspian Tern, Purple Martin, Kingfisher, Summer Tanager, Ring-billed Gull, Rusty Blackbird, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Orchard Oriole and 16 warbler species (Hooded, Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Tennessee, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Northern Parula, Cape May, Common Yellowthroat, Redstart, Yellow-rumped, Ovenbird, Palm and Pine).
The Monarch butterfly migration was atrocious this year. Normally we easily count well over a thousand in a season with peak days having several hundred. This season’s total Monarch count was only 194 with a peak day count of 25. Other interesting sightings included tens of thousands of migrating dragonflies in September (the sky was literally full of them on some days) and 3 Black Bears up on the ridge at the teepee.
Our second annual Open House on Sep 14 was a big success with over 130 people who showed up to learn about raptor migration and enjoy our grilled hot dogs and hamburgers! Many people at the Open House were actually first-time visitors, which was wonderful! I would like to acknowledge and thank two counters in particular, Rose Thomas and Gabriel Mapel, who put in the bulk of the coverage this year! Other counters who contributed significantly this year include Peter Nebel, Brenda Tekin, Allen Larner, Mark Johnson and myself. Unfortunately, Brenda, Co-Coordinator of our hawk watch, missed out on most of the season while recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which hit her suddenly and unexpectedly in August. Fortunately Brenda made it up to the watch a few times this season, and she still remains in recovery at home with lots of physical therapy. Let’s hope she’ll be back in full-force next year!